More than a hundred works councils, union sections and RLTs, convened by the Spanish journalists’ unions CCOO, UGT and FeSP, will take to the streets on 1 March 2023 to demand decent wages and working conditions. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) expresses its support for the Spanish journalists’ unions and the striking journalists.

For the first time, the works councils of Vocento, Unidad Editorial, Prisa and Promecal have joined forces to demand that the management of the daily press sector meet to negotiate pay rises for all staff of their newspapers, magazines and all the companies involved. This demand comes after more than a decade of wage freezes, and in some cases substantial cuts, which fall below the updated Interprofessional Minimum Wage (IWW).

With these mobilisations, the unions want to express their support for the tired staff in the face of the unwavering position of the communications companies, which categorically refuse to recognise the loss of purchasing power of the workers in the sector. Over the last decade, they have accumulated up to 27% loss of salary, aggravated this year by the extraordinary rise in inflation.

In addition, in recent years, staff have not only had to cope with wage freezes and pay levels unworthy of university graduates, but have also been forced to respond to digital and multimedia tasks that have been added to the already saturated workload of the print media. The unions believe that the closed-mindedness of the business leaders is due to the impasse in the negotiation of the state agreement for the daily press by the Association of News Media (AMI), which is proposing a ridiculous and offensive 1% wage increase without retroactive effect.

The EFJ stands in solidarity with workers in the daily press sector who will gather at the gates of their workplaces on Wednesday 1 March.

Today, one year after the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Partner Organisations to the Safety of Journalists’ Platform remember the colleagues who lost their lives while covering the war, those who have endured injury, abduction, torture and suffering and express full support for all journalists who report truthfully about the war. According to alerts published on the Platform, to date, twelve journalists and media workers have been killed while covering the war, or in connection with their profession, and 23 others have been injured.

The Partner Organisations condemn the threats to the lives and safety of journalists and media workers resulting from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and call for enhanced protection of all who cover the war. In situations of conflict, the free and unhindered exercise of journalism is especially important to safeguard the right of the public to be informed.

The Partner Organisations will continue documenting attacks on media workers and attempts to restrict coverage of the war, as well as exposing potential war crimes to facilitate accountability and bring those responsible to justice.

Even though the Russian Federation is no longer part of the Council of Europe, the Partner Organisations pledge to continue monitoring the state of press freedom and attacks against journalists in that country. The clampdown on journalists and media workers in Russia, including the passage of a number of new laws, which criminalised accurate reporting on the realities of the war, hamper documentation of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law.

The Partner Organisations remind the authorities of the Russian Federation of their obligations and commitmentsregarding the protection of journalists in situations of conflict and tension, in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law. These commitments are set out in the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, and were cited in UN Security Council Resolution 2222, in particular:

• Journalists and media workers operating in areas of armed conflict must be treated and protected as civilians and allowed to perform their work without undue interference. Attacks intentionally targeting journalists, as civilians, constitute war crimes. All states should do their utmost to end impunity for such criminal acts. States engaged in armed conflict should instruct their military and police forces to give necessary and reasonable assistance to journalists when they so request. They should disseminate the relevant instructions to their military and civilian authorities to make them aware of all these obligations.
• States should facilitate the access of journalists and their equipment to the territory concerned by providing the necessary documentation and permissions. They should refrain from taking any restrictive measures against journalists, such as denial, withdrawal of accreditation or expulsion, on account of their exercise of their duties or the content of their reports. States should apply these provisions in a non-discriminatory and non-arbitrary manner in their dealings with journalists, whether foreign or local.

The Partner Organisations also urge media organisations to take all possible preventive and protection measures for the physical safety of journalists and media workers; and to provide them with adequate training and preparation before undertaking dangerous missions in situations of conflict and war.

Signed:

• Justice for Journalists Foundation
• Index on Censorship
• International Press Institute (IPI)
• European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
• Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
• International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
• Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
• PEN International 
• ARTICLE 19
• European Broadcasting Union
• Rory Peck Trust (RPT)
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
• European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Background

On 24 February 2022 the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to alerts published on the platform, at least twelve journalists and media workers were killed while covering the war, and 23 others were injured.

On 26 February the Ukrainian photojournalist Ihor Hudenko died while filming in Kharkiv. On 1 March Russian missiles struck the radio and TV tower in Kyiv, killing the cameraman Yevheniy Sakun. On 13 March the United States reporter Brent Renaud was killed when his vehicle came under fire in Irpin. On 14 March the French Irish camera operator Pierre Zakrzewski and the Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova were killed while reporting from Horenka. On 23 March the Russian journalist Oksana Baulina was killed by a missile while covering the shelling of residential areas in Kyiv. An investigation by Reporters without Borders (RSF) suggests that the Ukrainian photojournalist Maks Levin, whose body was found on 1 April, was likely executed by Russian soldiers near Kyiv on 13 March. On 30 March the Lithuanian documentarian Mantas Kvedaravičius was killed after being abducted by Russian soldiers in Mariupol. Yevgeny Bal, a writer and member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, died on 2 April after being detained and tortured by the Russian military. On 13 April Roman Nezhyborets and Zoreslav Zamoysky were found killed in Yahidne and Bucha respectively under circumstances that remain to be determined. On 30 May the French reporter Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff was killed after an evacuation vehicle came under fire near Severodonetsk.

In the Russian Federation, the invasion went hand in hand with a crackdown of unprecedented severity on free press and independent journalism. On 4 March 2022, the authorities fast-tracked laws that criminalise the use of information sources other than the official propaganda outlets. New criminal offences ban “public and wilful dissemination of knowingly false information about the Russian army and the exercise of powers by the Russian public authorities abroad”, “discreditation of the Russian army or the exercise of powers by the Russian public authorities in defending the interests of Russia and its citizens and in maintaining international peace and security”, “calls for sanctions against Russia, its citizens or legal entities”. All the above incur long prison sentences.

Dozens of media outlets were closed or suspended their operations and many journalists who criticised or wrote factually about the war were harassed, detained and given harsh sentences. Many were added to the “foreign agents” register, which carries heavy administrative obligations, and foreign journalists were stripped of their accreditation. The state media regulator Roskomnadzor assumed unrestrained control of content on Internet platforms and search engines, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were blocked, and Meta Platform Inc. was added to the list of terrorist and extremist organisations.

The Safety of Journalists Platform

The Platform is managed by the Council of Europe in co-operation with 15 prominent international NGOs active in the field of the freedom of expression and associations of journalists, to address serious threats regarding media freedom and safety of journalists in Europe.

Investigative journalists are engaged in uncovering important facts that someone wants to cover up, often pitting them against the will of powerful social groups, which is why investigative journalism is the riskiest form of journalism.

In traditional societies, such as Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, the prejudices faced by female investigative journalists make their work even more complicated and dangerous. Click here to read about the (self-)perception of the position of female investigative journalists in these three countries.

This project is supported by the Embassy of Canada through Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. The views, findings, and conclusions or recommendations resulting from this project do not necessarily reflect those of funding partners or their respective governments.

Two weeks after the terrible earthquake that shook Northern Syria and Eastern Turkey, Kenan Şener, Secretary General of the Ankara Journalists Association (GCD), describes the dire humanitarian situation for the inhabitants and the local journalists who are trying to tell their stories despite everything. Şener recounts the daily grind of journalists reporting on the ground, as well as how the Association is responding to their urgent needs, and preparing for a long crisis.

What are the main issues journalists are facing in the field?

The protection of journalists’ rights and freedoms has become more difficult due to the declaration of a state of emergency in the earthquake zone. Journalists have reported being hindered in their work, some were detained, threatened, and physically assaulted. Safety is a growing problem. In some provinces, attacks on journalists by security guards, angry earthquake victims, extortion groups, robbery gangs and unidentified groups are increasing. There are reports of journalists being extorted at gunpoint. Working after sunset increases the safety risk due to power cuts.

Personal hygiene and health are the other major problem. Public health experts warn that asbestos may have been released into the air due to the demolition of old buildings. Journalists are unable to meet their personal cleaning needs as water systems do not work and they often have to wash their hands and faces with dirty water. There is an apparent problem with access to toilets in all cities.

What are the current needs of journalists?

As the electricity problem remains acute, there is a great need for power banks, batteries, portable camp toilets and headlamps. I should also mention that there have been more than 600 aftershocks, some of them more than 6.5 degrees. As we speak, a strong 6.4 earthquake has shaken Hatay as far as Gaziantep. It is therefore unreasonable to expect a quick return to some sort of normality. Emergency aid must therefore be maintained.

Due to the lack of electricity, all journalists in the region depend on their cars to recharge their equipment. Those who do not have cars try to charge their phones and other equipment in other people’s cars. Difficulties with transport and internet connection persist, but people are slowly overcoming them. Satellite internet capabilities as well as power banks and portable toilets are most needed.

With the offices of most local newspapers and internet portals razed to the ground, especially in Hatay and Adıyaman, local journalists are not only deprived of offices, but their cameras, video cameras, computers and printing equipment are now lying under the debris. There is a dire need to help them with office equipment, especially cameras and computers, as well as financial assistance.

How has GCD supported journalists since the earthquake?

Immediately after the earthquake, the GCD contacted the leaders of journalists’ associations in the region to gather information on the damage and losses. We formed a three-person team that travelled to the region to address the urgent professional and personal needs of journalists in the affected area. Journalists working in the area were mapped and a focus group of 250 journalists was formed to identify needs. The team representing the association held meetings with journalists, local media workers and executives of local associations in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş, the two provinces that were severely affected by the earthquake. Food banks, dust masks, personal hygiene kits and portable camp toilets were distributed to journalists.

How can unions in Europe help journalists in Turkey?

These are very difficult times for Turkey and the Turkish media. The dimensions of the impact of the quake will perhaps become much clearer in the days and weeks ahead after all our people who perished in the disaster are taken out and laid to rest. Scared of social backlash, as the death toll increases the pressure of the government most likely will become more and more oppressive, the signs of which are already evident. Under such conditions, journalists’ unions and media associations extending strong solidarity actions to their colleagues in Turkey will be much appreciated.

To support journalists in Turkey donate to the IFJ Safety Fund mention “Help -Turkey” 

Also in Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the major obstacles to the exercise of the journalistic profession is represented by the so-called SLAPPs, lawsuits seeking to silence or limit the work of journalists and civil rights activists

Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation are one of the main threats to press freedom in the Western Balkans, as denounced   by some of the main European journalistic organisations.

Maja Sever, president of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and of the Union of Croatian Journalists (SNH), dealt with the topic   during a training course for journalists, held in Banja Luka in November 2022. Focusing in particular on the situation in Croatia, Sever explained that, in addition to being subjected to unacceptable intimidation and threats, Croatian journalists are literally overwhelmed by lawsuits, which are one of the major obstacles to the free exercise of the journalistic profession, not only from a financial point of view, but also because they force journalists to spend entire days in court, often having to travel to another city to attend the hearing, and it is a very exhausting experience.

What are SLAPPs?

SLAPPs are lawsuits or countersuits brought against individuals or organisations that publicly address various issues of public interest. They are usually filed by businessmen, large corporations, and public officials. Their goal is to intimidate and silence critical voices, hoping that the defendant, forced to face a criminal trial and bear the associated costs, renounces to express any criticism or dissent.

The proceedings can last for years and, in addition to forcing the defendants to bear often significant legal costs, risk damaging their reputation. The media and journalists’ associations of the Western Balkans consider SLAPPs a form of intimidation and aggression   against journalists, i.e. a sort of legal bullying  .

According to data from the Association of Journalists of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in most cases SLAPP trials are characterised by a disparity of power and economic resources between the defendant and the plaintiff to the advantage of the latter, and that is why the charges, partly or wholly unfounded and exaggerated, have a greater deterrent effect. The plaintiff is aware of this from the beginning and this makes their allegations malicious.

The report also points out that many lawsuits against journalists are intimidating, but not all of them qualify as SLAPP. What distinguishes SLAPPs is the reason behind them and the effect they produce: a SLAPP is preceded by a warning, which sometimes alone is enough to silence journalists. Furthermore, SLAPPs are usually filed for defamation, but also for violation of privacy and data protection and intellectual property laws, and are accompanied by claims for damages and publication bans, thus leading to press censorship.

Activists are also targeted by SLAPPs

SLAPPs are also filed against activists and non-governmental organisations. In 2022 in Bosnia and Herzegovina many activists ended up in the crosshairs of SLAPP. In October 2022, two environmental activists, Sara Tusevljak e Suncica Kovacevic, were targeted for their commitment to defending the Kasindolska river. The complaint was filed by the Belgian company Green Invest, which obtained the concession for the construction of three small hydropower plants on this river near Sarajevo. Sara and Suncica received the support of more than 140 organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region, but also from other European countries and the United States. Local activists have repeatedly expressed concern about the potential negative impact of the construction of small hydropower plants on the Kasindolska River and the surrounding environment – a completely justified one, as during the construction of the access roads to the construction site a protective forest was cut down, causing soil erosion.

Lejla Turcilo, professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo, explains   that the purpose of SLAPPs is to prevent debate on certain issues of public interest, i.e. to transfer the debate from the public sphere to the judicial one. In other words, anyone who decides to file a SLAPP is not doing it just to get revenge against those that criticise their work, but to silence any dissent in society. Thus the debate on what the public interest is and how to protect it is transferred to the judicial sphere, excluding citizens.

Unfavourable environment for critical debate

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the media landscape is characterised by poor safety and protection of journalists, who do not enjoy sufficient economic and social protection, by inadequate criminal policies and by jurisprudential practice on defamation in contrast with the practice of the European Court of Human Rights.

A report   published by the regional platform Safejournalists.net stresses that in Bosnia and Herzegovina there is an increasingly widespread tendency to file SLAPPs against journalists, accompanied by requests for compensation for damages, so much so that some media have found themselves forced to shut down or to downsize their operations under financial pressures related to defamation suits. This is the case of Slobodna Bosna which had to suspend the publication of the paper edition due to over fifty SLAPPS.

According to data released by the Association of Journalists of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there were 300 pending defamation cases in BiH in 2020. Of these, 80% were initiated on the basis of lawsuits filed by politicians and state officials. Approximately forty defamation lawsuits regarded as SLAPPs were filed in 2016-2021 alone. What distinguishes Bosnia and Herzegovina from other countries is the fact that defamation cases are often filed by court holders. Furthermore, many media outlets have been hit with dozens of lawsuits brought by the same person, which, as stated in the report of the Safejournalists platform, clearly demonstrates the plaintiff’s intention to financially destroy the defendant.

According to the latest Reporters Without Borders ranking on press freedom, Bosnia and Herzegovina has dropped by nine places compared to 2021, ranking 67th out of 180 countries taken into consideration. The report highlights that in Bosnia and Herzegovina the media operate in an extremely unfavourable political and social environment and, consequently, journalists do not feel safe in carrying out their work. The economic environment is unfavourable due to the small size of the market and the lack of sustainable funding. The difficult economic situation, accompanied by dependence on the centres of political and economic power, deters many media outlets from doing critical journalism. The situation of the media in BiH is also affected by the ethnic divisions that persist more than three decades after the war, as well as the competition from the media of neighbouring countries that belong to the same linguistic area.

Fight for freedom of expression

Professor Lejla Turcilo believes   that the creation of a network for monitoring and combating SLAPPs in BiH would be “a very important step for solidarity and the fight against self-censorship in the public sphere”. In her words, the fight against SLAPPs must be a priority for 2023 “not only for journalists, the media, activists and others affected by the gag lawsuits, but for all of us citizens, because by engaging on this front, we protect the right to open debate in the public sphere as a fundamental value of any democratic society”.

Turcilo explains that the fight against SLAPPs must be institutional and systemic, with the adoption of appropriate regulations and strategies at national, regional, and global levels. Furthermore, it is very important to publicly support the journalists and activists who are targeted. “Providing financial support, even symbolic, to those forced to pay compensation is a good way for us citizens to take on our share of responsibility in the fight against SLAPPs that pose a threat to all of us and to our right to freedom of information and criticism and are, therefore, unacceptable”, concludes professor Turcilo.

To ward off gag lawsuits, media professionals in BiH propose amending the defamation law, setting a maximum amount for damages claims, and introducing a special tax for lawsuits. On the other hand, the authorities of Republika Srpska have for years been announcing their intention to introduce the crime of defamation, but to date nothing has been done probably due to a strong dissent of public opinion which believes that the authorities only want to discipline the media and journalists.

As there is no official SLAPP registry in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Association of Journalists of BiH announced in early 2023 that it would create a SLAPP Registration, Monitoring and Awareness Working Group which will work closely with the European Federation of Journalists.

Among the countries in the region, Croatia leads   in the number of SLAPPs (over 900 in December 2022), while in Serbia   26 SLAPPs were registered between 2010 and 2020, including 22 against the media and journalists. Many were filed by politicians and state officials themselves.

SARAJEVO, 23.02.2023. – The Steering Committee of the BH Journalists Association strongly condemns the threats that Ramo Isak, a member of the Assembly of Zenica-Doboj Canton, directed to the journalist of online magazine Žurnal, Amarildo Gutić, and demands that the competent institutions urgently investigate this case and sanction Isak.

As stated in the article published by Žurnal, on Tuesday, in front of the Municipal Court building in Sarajevo, Ramo Isak warned journalist Amarildo Gutić in a threatening, angry voice to “stop writing about his children”. The threats were made ahead of the hearing regarding the lawsuit that Isak initiated against Žurnal. A few months ago, according to Žurnal, Isak also threatened Gutić and asked different people to tell the journalist how he would “finally deal with him”.

The Steering Committee of BH Journalists emphasizes that these threats must be taken very seriously, especially considering the fact that Ramo Isak has already been convicted twice for violent behavior. One of those verdicts from 2011 was precisely because of threats to a journalist, when Isak was sentenced to a suspended sentence of two months in prison.

It is the legitimate right of Ramo Isak, like any other citizen, to file defamation lawsuits against journalists and media outlets that he believes are writing untruths about him – which is what Isak did in this case. However, attempts to force journalists to stop writing about certain people or topics with threats of violence are absolutely unacceptable and represent a criminal offense that must be sanctioned!

The aforementioned case has even greater weight considering that Ramo Isak is a person who performs the public and political function of representative in the Assembly of Zenica-Doboj Canton and president of the Regional Committee of Narodni evropski savez (People’s European Union). The Steering Committee of BHJA therefore calls on the ZDK Assembly and Narodni evropski savez to sanction Isak’s violence against journalist Gutić in accordance with their ethical rules on the behavior of public officials. We ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton to provide the necessary protection to colleagues from Žurnal and to do everything in their power to ensure that the safety of journalists is not threatened at any time.